By George

 

May we never forget America’s Independence wasn’t free; it cost many all the bravery they could muster.

This time of the year got me to thinking about the phrase home of the brave.  Of course, that comes from the last words in our National Anthem, in which the author was referring to America.   And we need look no further for someone who  best epitomizes true bravery than the example  set by George Washington.

Here are the givens regarding George Washington.   He was First President of our proud nation. He led the Crossing of the Delaware in the Revolutionary War. His wife’s name was Martha. And as a child, he chopped down a cherry tree which sadly was just an old wives’ tale.

Although, before one can be great there is a lot that goes into building that character. Strange thing about George Washington is that things didn’t always seem to go his way. 

While our First President reportedly stood 6’ 3  1/2”  tall, he was not traditionally regarded as being overly attractive.  It has been said that his facial appearance had been scarred as a result of small pox during his teen years and this apparently seemed to make his relationships with the opposite sex difficult.  Twice, women he proposed marriage to rejected his offer.  On top of that, his father passed away when he was eleven and he seemingly was raised by a domineering mother. 

Let this be a lesson to us all; appearances can be deceiving.  Although, the beginning of his story was difficult, George did not allow this to define his character and the man who he was becoming.

For example, nothing more embodies Washington’s bravery than when he was a young officer fighting in the French and Indian War.  It was July 9^th, 1755 when he quite frankly should have not survived, in a war which pitted the British against the French. Under the leadership of General Braddock, one of England’s most experienced officers, they went to battle seeking to forcibly evict the French from Fort Duquesne, which now is Pittsburgh, Pa.  However, the French, along with their allies the Indians were lying in wait for them in a heavily wooded ravine.

General Braddock’s plan of attack was the European approach in which the soldiers march in columns while staying in the open, never retreating.  Despite George’s warning, Braddock  refused to considering any other tactic than what worked in the past. Unfortunately, the British in their bright red coats were easy targets for the French and Indians who were hiding behind trees and rocks.   It was quite literally a massacre. 

After only hours,  more than half of the 1300 men were dead, Braddock among them.  On the contrary, only thirty or so of the French and Indians suffered fatalities.  Yet, somehow, by George, our first President survived.    History tells us that his coat had four bullet holes in it and that two horses were shot out from under him, yet he refused to retreat.

This, in his own words, is how he described his miraculous escape from death.  “ By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation.” In my opinion, using modern terms, he was claiming God had protected Him.  The Indians agreed, in principle. 

 

Years later, Indian soldiers swore that they had singled out Washington to kill him, but each time they fired at him they mysteriously missed.  The Indians sincerely believed that  an Invisible Power was watching over Washington.

 

The Father of our Nation was quite a man. Certainly when it comes to true examples of bravery, you need look no further that the example set by George.   

Bravery, unlike bragging, allows its actions to speak for itself.

Swavel